Ian Croxall posted this on the Lacewars Yahoo group sometime back.
"Gun Carriage Colors in the War of the Spanish Succession.
France.
Red Wood
Black Iron fittings.
Reference Kuhn, Foure and displayed pieces in British Museums.
Austria.
I have found no specific references to Austrian gun colors prior to 1720 -
after which they became yellow. I am inclined to believe they were natural
(oiled)wood during the WSS. This opinion is based on the following:
An illustration by Ottenfeld shows them, during the WSS, to be of natural
wood.
Austria captured a lot of pieces in Italy. I'm not sure if they were
re-painted (i.e – had their paint removed) upon capture or not. The
artillery do not appear to have been an organized body at this time, and
standard uniforms (and therefore standard carriage paint-jobs) had not
become normal. These are on display in the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in
Vienna, the early Austrian Artillery are on "natural wood" carriages (lots
of them).
In the famous painting of the relief of Vienna in 1683 (by the unknown
artist)the big Austrian artillery piece in the center (behind Sobieski),
about to blast into the flank of the Turkish cavalry – is in natural wood,
with iron fittings.
Britain.
Either Lead Grey {blue/greay] (probably) or Red Lead[red](possibly).
Iain Stanford describes a piece he saw at the Woolich Rotunda which was
painted Blue/Grey. However, I have seen a photograph of a 2lb light piece
painted Red Lead but of course, the restoration may not necessarily be
correct. Iain also quotes Walton (who was quoting from a Royal Warrant) that
Carriages were painted with Lead paint. Usually, if Red Lead paint is used
the warrant says so, this
would indicate that carriages may well have been Grey,
Lawson, is not as specific – stating that Gray was the normal color but
adding that British Guns used on the continent tended to be painted red.
The two pieces of British Artillery embroidered in the foreground of the
Blenheim Tapestries showing the battle of Blenheim (by the burned out mills)
are blue/grey with bronze barrels.
Condray (not giving a specific citation) states artillery carriages were
red.
Bavaria
Blue Black wood. I wrote this down some years ago but didn't not my source -
possibly Kuhn.
United Provinces
Dark Blue Wood
Reference: Kuhn
Pieces supplied to Britain were painted red (reference Condray – no specific
citation)
Prussia
Blue Wood, Black Iron
Reference: Kuhn"
Hope it helps
Patrick
receives a gift from his wife…
